Chapter 8: Let’s Celebrate!

Monday, Algorithm Tent

2:00 pm

"We have to celebrate... You only accomplish something like this, for the first time, once in a lifetime. Let's go out tonight and let loose," Aiden says as pure elation fills his soul.

"Yeah... Yeah!" Amelia repeats with more vigor.

"Let's go out! Let's do it!"

"Go home and get ready. I'll pick you up tonight," he says with a grin before walking out of the tent.

Amelia nods and picks up her tablet. She places it back in her bag and heads back into the city.

8:00 PM

At home, Amelia pours pitchers of hot water into her large, bathing basin until it is almost full and climbs in. She closes her eyes and lets the steamy water relax her sore muscles and aching joints, calming her circuits. After having spent the last few hours in the market helping out her father and some of her neighbors, Amelia finally made it home to get ready for the night. She runs her wet hands through her short hair and looks out at the late afternoon sky. A breeze blows the flap covering her bathing area as her hooded eyes look out over the quickly cooling sand. Amelia glides a wet sponge over the sand-covered skin on her arms and legs.

The young Nannomi woman sinks into the water until it rests just below her nose. She closes her eyes and begins to fully submerge herself. Amelia sits there for a few moments letting the heat seep deep into her core, warming her endoskeleton. When she resurfaces she wipes the water away from her eyes. Amelia spends most of her bath thinking about the project. The name of which they had discussed many times over, but never fully settled. Aiden was partial to The Halo and Amelia, The Ark.

After washing up, she climbs out and walks to the trunk at the foot of her cot. Amelia pulls out a strappy tee, a pair of shorts, and a long, thin skirt. The reseda green of the tee compliments the blue undertones in her skin as she slides it on. The tan shorts fit like a dream and the skirt throws a festive tone into the whole ensemble. Amelia runs a brush through her cropped hair and glides her fingers from her elbow to her wrist in a swirling motion.

Her body alights in a pinkish glow, making her appear more purple as her hair and skin dry from the heat. Slipping into a pair of tawny sandals, Amelia peeks around the burlap flap over the opening in her tent to see if Aiden had arrived. Instead, she finds the kind face of her father smiling at her. His long, obsidian hair tied up on top of his head is as meticulous as always as he ducks into her tent. Ezekiel's blue-grey skin looks darker against the white of his comfortable cotton garb.

"Amelia, you look beautiful. No doubt, ready to celebrate your success with Aiden," he says with a grin that reaches the crow's feet around his dark eyes.

"Don't give me that look, Dad. I know how you see us," Amelia says with a soft smile.

"A father can always tell," Ezekiel states as his eyes glimmer with happiness and hope.

She feels her face burn as she blushes and he chuckles, gripping her hands gently.

"Your mother would be so proud of the woman you've become, Amelia."

Amelia smiles at her father as a pale blue tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away and embraces him.

"I miss her too," she says softly.

Her father sniffles and clears his throat, breaking away from his beloved daughter slowly.

"You better head out if you want to meet Aiden."

She nods and walks past him to the flap hanging over the entrance. Turning back briefly, Amelia smiles at her father once more before slipping out and into the night.

Aiden grins at Amelia from a couple of tents down as he walks up. Her smile widens and can't help the flutter in her chest while looking him over. His dark, inky green hair is way less disheveled than she's used to and he looks so different in a button-up tee with two of the buttons left undone.

"Wow... Amelia, you look amazing!" he says as he looks her up and down with a grin.

"You're not too shabby yourself," she teases.

They walk down the sandy paths between the tents, making their way to the closest club. Aiden and Amelia talk about their plans after they see Samone.

"I'm going to take a break and help Dad around the market. He could use some help finding the more valuable pieces of machinery and tech. Less broken ones, at least," Amelia says with a chuckle.

"He is a bit hopeless when it comes to finding even half-decent pieces scattered in the dunes," Aiden agrees with a grin.

"Now me? I think I'm going to take a vacation, see some of the world outside of Africa. Maybe build an empire and come back very rich," his eyes twinkle with mischief and humor.

They laugh and Amelia looks around the dark city. Just a few lights are left on as they walk. Aiden stops at a huge tent where music is thumping and lights are flashing through the cracks around the flap. A couple of men stand on either side, looking over the two as they approach. Amelia looks at Aiden with a brow raised.

"You brought me to Millie's?" she asks as he smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I thought "This wasn't your scene"."

Aiden watches her make air quotes with her fingers and the teasing smirk on her lips as he blushes slightly.

"Well... I thought we could give it a try," he says as a crooked grin stretches over his lips and he shrugs.

Aiden walks closer and the two guards lift the flap for both him and Amelia. Music soon fills their ears and they look at each other as the lights flash and transition over their bodies. All they can see is a mass of sweat-covered flesh dancing to the beat as if they were one. Amelia sees Aiden's nervous smile and takes his hand in hers. She pulls him through the tight-knit crowd to the bar.

"Two Pulque Originals, please," Amelia says to the bartender while holding up two fingers.

She turns to Aiden, who seems even more nervous than before.

"Don't worry, you have to drink a lot to get drunk," Amelia says reassuringly.

"Oh no, it's not that... I've had Pulque before... It's just-I'm not sure if I'm ready for this kind of celebration," he says and he rubs the back of his neck uneasily as he chuckles softly.

"This was your idea, Aiden... We'll get a few drinks in you and you'll feel better, I promise," she says, rubbing his back.